Who's the greatest football player from Cleveland County? Let the debate begin.

Who is the greatest football player Cleveland County has ever produced?

Let the debate begin.

As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, USA TODAY Sports will celebrate the 250 greatest American sports figures of all time. Alongside that national recognition, the USA TODAY Network will spotlight the roots of the country’s sports culture: the high school athletes and sports figures who shaped communities and defined their states.

First up, we're honoring the stars of the gridiron. Here are our selections for the football players who defined Cleveland County. While accomplishments at the college and professional level undoubtedly influenced which standouts cracked the list, we are primarily looking to highlight those who starred at the high school level and dominated local headlines.

Now it's your turn to pick the best of the best.

Print readers can find the poll at shelbystar.com.

If you feel we've left somebody out, feel free to write in a candidate.

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Aug 2, 2014; Canton, OH, USA; Bobby Bell at the 2014 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement at Fawcett Stadium.

Bobby Bell

A high school football standout at old Cleveland High School in Shelby, Bell went on to star as a linebacker at the University of Minnesota, helping it win a national championship in 1960. During his time with the Golden Gophers, he was also a two-time All-American, winning the Outland Trophy and being recognized as the UPI Lineman of the Year in 1962. Bell spent 10 seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs, helping them win the 1966 and 1969 AFL titles, including a 24-7 win in Super Bowl IV over the Minnesota Vikings. He is a member of the Professional and College Football halls of fame.

Nov 21, 2015; Gainesville, FL, USA;Florida Gators defensive lineman Jonathan Bullard (90) prior to the game against the Florida Atlantic Owls at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

Jonathan Bullard

A participant in the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas and the U.S. All-American Game, Bullard parlayed a successful career at Crest with four seasons at Florida. He tallied 169 tackles (30½ for a loss) and 11 sacks, earning a spot on the SEC’s All-Freshman Team, and later being named a first-team All-SEC performer and a third-team All-American. He was drafted in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears. He’s now a member of the Dallas Cowboys, following stints with the Seattle Seahawks, Atlanta Falcons, Minnesota Vikings and New Orleans Saints.

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA: Linebacker Shamar Finney (21) of the Penn State Nittany Lions waits for the snap during the NCAA football game against the Virginia Cavaliers on December 1, 2001 at Scott Stadium in Charlottsville, Virginia. Virgina defeated Penn State 20-14.

Shamar Finney

Finney helped Crest win NCHSAA state titles in 1994 and 1996, racking up 355 total tackles during a stellar high school career. A 1998 Charger alum, he was honored as a USA Today and PARADE All-American, in addition to being recognized as the state’s No. 2 recruit behind eventual Pro Football Hall of Famer Julius Peppers. Finney played collegiately for coach Joe Paterno and Penn State from 1998-2001.

Nov 15, 2017; DeKalb, IL; Northern Illinois Huskies running back Tre Harbison (22) celebrates after defeating the Western Michigan Broncos at Huskie Stadium.

Tre Harbison

Cleveland County’s all-time leading rusher, Harbison ran for 5,770 yards from 2012-15. He had 99 rushing touchdowns, with eight more through the air. More importantly, he helped Crest to 32 consecutive wins and state titles in 2015 and 2016. He followed that with a solid career at Northern Illinois, rushing for 1,000 yards in back-to-back seasons (2018-19). In total, he rushed for 2,345 yards and 16 TDs at the school. He finished his collegiate career at Charlotte.

Sep 3, 2021; Blacksburg, Va: Virginia Tech Hokies linebacker Dax Hollifield (4) celebrates with teammates linebacker Alan Tisdale (34) and defensive back Nasir Peoples (31) after intercepting a pass during the second half against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Lane Stadium.

Dax Hollifield

Hollifield set Shelby High and Cleveland County records with 629 career tackles (139 for a loss).He was recognized as a 2017 MaxPreps All-American, in addition to playing in the 2018 U.S. Army All-America Game. Shelby claimed NCHSAA state titles in three of his four seasons, including a 16-0 record in 2016. He played at  Virginia Tech from 2018-22, finishing with 355 career tackles, 12 sacks and four interceptions.

Oct 27, 2024; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (26) celebrates with running backs coach Scottie Montgomery after scoring a touchdown against the Tennessee Titans in the first quarter at Ford Field.

Scottie Montgomery

A 1996 Burns product, he was an instrumental part of the Bulldogs claiming the program’s only NCHSAA state championship in 1994. He’d play collegiately at Duke, where he caught 171 passes for 2,379 yards and 13 touchdowns. He played professionally for the NFL’s Denver Broncos (2000-02) and Oakland Raiders (2003), as well as the Arena Football League’s Georgia Force. He presently serves as a wide receivers coach for the Detroit Lions.

Oct 31, 2025; Syracuse, New York, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels wide receiver Kobe Paysour (8) runs after making a catch against the Syracuse Orange in the first quarter at the JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-Imagn Images

Kobe Paysour

In three years at Kings Mountain, Paysour set receiving records including career receptions (171), receptions in a season (79), career receiving yards (3,696), receiving yards in a game (288), receiving yards in a season (1,721) and TD receptions in a season (26). He also has the longest interception return for a TD in school history, his 103-yard return sealing a 2018 playoff win at Statesville. He capped his career at Gaffney High in South Carolina, before playing collegiately at the University of North Carolina.

Oct 19, 2014; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills middle linebacker Brandon Spikes (51) before a game against the Minnesota Vikings at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

Brandon Spikes

A four-year starter and two-time NCHSAA state champion at Crest, Spikes was recognized as the state’s top prospect by Rivals in 2006 and selected to participate in the U.S. Army All-America Game. After choosing to play at the University of Florida, he helped the Gators win national titles in 2007 and 2009. The Crest product spent six years in the NFL, playing for the New England Patriots (2010-13) and the Buffalo Bills (2014, 2016).

This article originally appeared on The Shelby Star: Best football players from Shelby NC Cleveland County